While benefiting the clubs in terms of income, the expanded League phase has reduced the peril associated with early Champions League fixtures. Ordinarily, Chelsea’s Matchday 2 home clash with Benfica would offer little to stand out from the packed midweek crowd.
However, following a September managerial change at the Portuguese club, there was never any danger that this game would fly under the radar. Over 20 years after announcing himself as “the Special One”, José Mourinho made his latest return to Stamford Bridge.
No Stranger to the Opposition Dugout
José Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, 20 years apart 🫴
🏟️ @ChelseaFC pic.twitter.com/4b4l8pet9O
— Premier League (@premierleague) September 30, 2025
Of course, this wasn’t the first time Mourinho had led the opposition into battle at his former home. Since leaving Chelsea for the first time in 2007, Mourinho has returned to West London with Inter Milan, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur, with mostly disappointing results.
Mourinho began well in a 2010 Champions League Last 16 encounter, when a Samuel Eto’o toe poke was enough to see Inter Milan win 1-0 on the night and 3-1 on aggregate.
His subsequent tenure at Manchester United didn’t go so well. Labelled “Judas” by sections of the home support, Mourinho failed to win in four visits to the Bridge, suffering 4-0 and 1-0 defeats in the league and a 1-0 loss in the FA Cup. The pick of the results – a 2-2 draw in 2018/19 – sparked a memorable tussle with the Chelsea dugout following Ross Barkley’s late equaliser.
Two league visits with Spurs followed a similar pattern: a 2-1 defeat in 2019/20 and a goalless draw in 2020/21. Ahead of this game, Mourinho’s record at Stamford Bridge as an opposition manager stood at: Played seven, Won one, Drawn two, Lost four.
Tall Order on Tuesday Evening
Having begun his senior managerial career with Benfica in 2000, Mourinho made a surprise return to his former club on 18th September 2025 – two days after the club suffered a chastening home defeat to minnows Qarabag in this competition.
Three games crammed into his first week in charge left Mourinho with little time to instil his ideas on the training pitch. However, there had been early signs of encouragement, with Benfica going unbeaten in three in the league under his guidance. Nevertheless, an away trip to the reigning Club World Champions represented a significant step up in class.
A Dramatic Backdrop
José Mourinho was the last to appear from the tunnel before the game, gliding through the smoke as the Champions League theme blared from the Stamford Bridge speakers. Cutting a typically stylish figure throughout, Mourinho acknowledged the chants coming his way from behind both goals. Off the pitch at least, the stage was set for a memorable evening.
Another moment of theatre arrived when Enzo Fernandes lined up to take a corner in front of the away support. Benfica received a hefty £107m fee when the midfield ace joined Chelsea in 2023. However, the barrage of missiles that rained down on the Argentine suggested he is not particularly popular in Lisbon these days.
Keen to cool the situation, Mourinho set off from the dugout to plead with the fans. The sight of Mourinho heading towards the corner flag sparked memories of his famous response to Porto’s last-gasp equaliser at Old Trafford in 2004. This journey down the touchline lacked the speed or knee-slide of that celebratory sprint, but at 62 years old, he could be forgiven for that.
Damp Squib of a Game
As for the game itself, this clash won’t live long in the memory. The pivotal moment arrived in the 18th minute with a goal unlikely to make many end-of-season highlight reels. Pedro Neto’s cross from deep on the right was met by Garnacho, who did well to keep the ball in play beyond the far post. Chasing back towards his own goal, Richard Rios couldn’t get out of the way and sent Garnacho’s low centre crashing into his own net.
A far from vintage display from Chelsea, who ended the match with ten men for the third time in four games, following the stoppage time dismissal of Joao Pedro. Without a win in three in the Premier League, this result at least sends the Blues into their huge clash with Liverpool on a positive note.
Benfica, meanwhile, emerged with plenty of credit in defeat, winning the total shot count 9-8 and matching Chelsea for shots on target.
Custard Creams and Back with the Grandkids
🗣️ José Mourinho: “I am part of Chelsea’s history. They are part of my history.” pic.twitter.com/ln329XA699
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) September 29, 2025
One of the more touching moments of José’s Stamford Bridge return came at the post-match press conference. Following 56 years at Chelsea, Brian Pullman retired in 2024. However, he didn’t miss the opportunity to welcome his former colleague, sparking an emotional embrace between the pair. Mourinho then enquired about the whereabouts of his favourite biscuits, prompting Pullman to unveil a previously hidden stash of custard creams.
Settling into his media duties, Mourinho was quick to thank the Chelsea fans and outline the role the club has played in his life, stating, “I hope to come back here in 20 years with my grandkids. They belong to my history, and I belong to theirs.”